Why Should GMC get their ABUs?

alain95

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2012
Messages
4
I'm a AS100 in my school's AFROTC program. One of the things we do here which I think go against the spirit of the military is we don't get ACUs until we become POC. I'm putting an outline together to present to my GMCA on why it is important for GMC to get their ABUs early. So far I have this:
1-Become familiar with the uniform for FT
2- uniformity throught out
3- pride (blues are more for formal settings; ACU's are what truly represent the military and it gives you a sense of pride and spirit de corps to wear it)
Those reasons are enough for me but I would like to hear a few more ideas. I want to make a legitimate argument.
 
What you should really do, in addition to your reasons, is prepare counter arguments for the reasons you're going to get from your cadre. Some of them include, Why should we pay to fit all of these cadets with uniforms if they may not be around til commissioning? Why should we put cadets in uniforms who have not demonstrated that they are committed to the Air Force? Why do GMC's need a certain uniform to feel esprit de corps? Basically, they are going to want to know what the cost benefit is for them. It's the same as how we do it in AROTC. Not all MS1 cadets will get uniforms. Why? Because a good portion of them won't be around very long. Also, they haven't proved that they actually A) are dedicated to the program and B) have an interest in actually commissioning.

Just some food for thought....
 
I'm a AS100 in my school's AFROTC program. One of the things we do here which I think go against the spirit of the military is we don't get ACUs until we become POC. I'm putting an outline together to present to my GMCA on why it is important for GMC to get their ABUs early. So far I have this:
1-Become familiar with the uniform for FT
2- uniformity throught out
3- pride (blues are more for formal settings; ACU's are what truly represent the military and it gives you a sense of pride and spirit de corps to wear it)
Those reasons are enough for me but I would like to hear a few more ideas. I want to make a legitimate argument.

You can make all the arguments you want but one thing you'll learn in ROTC and the military in general is that $$$ is the bottom line. When I started my freshman year, we had almost 60 AS100s. Out of those 60, 11 of us commissioned last may. Sure it makes sense for everyone to wear the same uniform. But the Air Force is strapped for cash, and getting freshman ROTC cadets ABUs is probably not their highest priority.
 
Listen to other posters especially Nick

The AF is not a bottomless pit of money.

The ABU issue is a way to motivate the corps. Just like C400 rated get to wear flight suits!

Welcome to the military.

OBTW they deserve ABU;s because they dedicated 2 yrs of their college life!
 
I agree with Bull.

I'm also an AFROTC 100. They literally JUST started issuing us blues and school began in August. They gave us what to wear as a temporary uniform and they are awful, don't match anything, I can't wait to never wear them again. HOWEVER, I completely understand why they do it that way. There are I think 114 cadets in my detatchment, 65-70% of which is made up of new cadets (100s and 250s) alone. The 200s told us this was because they wait about a month for the drop rate to slow down and for things to be more stable. There were a couple of ppl who were there one class and then gone the next without a word, they really started dropping once PT started. The logistics of tracking down and retrieving uniforms from the 10-20 cadets who decide this isn't for them and drop out, usually without saying a word to anyone, would be a nightmare. So it's frustrating, but completely understandable in a large det.

Alain, I get how you feel, but it is illogical from the administrative side of it. It's not fiscally sound, and we just haven't earned it yet. Even the 200s still won't have earned the ABUs until they get an EA. You should feel a certain level of respect for the POC who made it through when most of their peers didn't. Like em or not, they did earn both the ABUs and their positions in the det. (It also makes it a heck of alot easier to spot who's in charge when the POC wear the ABUs so you don't have to have that awkward moment when you're doing this weird shuffle-lean while trying to get close enough to see rank, but not too close because you don't want to be seen until you can figure out if you're supposed to salute/greet them or not:shake:)

Good luck, Idk if you'll be able to present any new argument they haven't already established a solid counterargument for amongst themselves when ROTC administrators settled on this system though. Just think of it this way, it'll be all the more sweeter when you finally get to put them on:thumb:
 
I'm a AS100 in my school's AFROTC program. One of the things we do here which I think go against the spirit of the military is we don't get ACUs until we become POC. I'm putting an outline together to present to my GMCA on why it is important for GMC to get their ABUs early. So far I have this:
1-Become familiar with the uniform for FT
2- uniformity throught out
3- pride (blues are more for formal settings; ACU's are what truly represent the military and it gives you a sense of pride and spirit de corps to wear it)
Those reasons are enough for me but I would like to hear a few more ideas. I want to make a legitimate argument.

Personally, I would think hard about making this presentation. As many have said their is a sense of pride that comes with earning the ACU's. Consider what those who have worked to earn that right will think about the presentation your about to make. The AF and ROTC have been around a long time and has done just fine with they way the run things. Without knowing all the reasons behind their procedures for uniform issue, cost, getting the uniforms back from those that drop out. You could very well be bringing the kind of attention to yourself that isn't the kind you want. Just remember, those upperclassmen that are wearing those ACU's are your leadership, they will still be your leadership after to make your arguments. The only difference is that now they will all know your name very well, that's not always a good thing.
 
I'm not an ROTC Cadet. However, when I see servicemen wearing ACU's in public, I think of somebody wearing work uniforms like coveralls. I personally like the blues, they are more classic and seem more appropriate for public and campus wear. I especially like the AF blues as they appear to be more cerebral and technically oriented. If I were an AFROTC Cadet, I'd be an engineering type, not a warrior type. The ACU's would make me feel uncomfortable as a wannabe warrior. Just a thought, you might face opposition from your own classmates.
 
alain,

I get your thought process, but it isn't rational.

1-Become familiar with the uniform for FT
The ABU doesn't take a lot of time to become familiar with regarding the uniform compared to service blues. Name tags are sewn on and never move, blues you need to place on lining up with a ruler, frogs fall off.

2- uniformity throught out
Have you looked at the ADAF. There are members that wear flight suits, blues and ABUs. There is no uniformity in the perspective you are proposing. Walk on an AF base any day tell me every AD member is in the exact same uniform. You can't say that. The uniformity throughout exists, but in their own way. Same as AFROTC. GMCs wear blues, POCs wear ABUs

3- pride (blues are more for formal settings; ACU's are what truly represent the military and it gives you a sense of pride and spirit de corps to wear it)

Tell that to the rated officers. The AF changed the rules recently. They wear blues if their not flying, not ABUs.

Bullet ADAF at in residence for PME(SOS/CGSC) wore his blues. At the Pentagon he wore his blues. He wore ABUs when he was jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.

DS commissioned in May, he wore ABUs C300 yr. C400 yr he wore a flight suit, I have my own opinion on that, but that is the AFROTC system.

Finally, tell me do you think the C300's earned that right to be distinguished from the 100's and the 200's? They went to SFT. They are POCs. They made it past the barrier, is it wrong that AFROTC gives a nod to them, that they motivate cadets by the type of uniform as you progress...kind of like they do in the AD world with rank.

You have at tops 45 days in the AFROTC world and you are already finding problems in your perspective regarding equality. If uniforms bother you regarding GMC and POC, just wait until you are AD and you go up for a promotion board where rated and non-rated compete.
 
Well I guess you all make a good point!

Actually my train of thought was based in that I thought my Detatchment was the only one that was like this, but I see that it is not. I was really a little worked up because Army across the hall gave all of their MS100 (150+) cadets BDUs. I completely agree that it tastes sweeter once you actually get them but it would be sweet if I got it now. I guess I'll have to be patient and keep working hard for it. I think it's better not to give no presentation considering that it seems I don't have a legitimate argument. Thanks for the insight guys, guess I'm too excited about this lol. AIR POWER!!!
 
Smart decision. It is great that you are excited, but before you start showing your enthusiasm take this time to listen and learn.
 
Just out of curiosity, is the Army program giving their cadets BDU's (the old woodland pattern with black boots) or the ACU (the current uniform with the UCP pattern)?
 
Just out of curiosity, is the Army program giving their cadets BDU's (the old woodland pattern with black boots) or the ACU (the current uniform with the UCP pattern)?
My DS is MS I.He received his pile of gear on Friday. It was the old woodland BDU. He couldn't be happier!
 
They got BDUs

They got the new ones, the sand colored one. Boots and everything.
 
I was issued ACUs. I also got the Dress Blues which I was surprised about.
 
MechEngi2B,
Yeah, who would ever want to be a "Wannabe Warrior"....Seriously?

Schleppe: Yeah seriously. Further, a search of prior military regulations prohibited the wearing of working uniforms off base and in the general public. I found a Marine Reserve unit rule prohibiting the wearing of "utilities" off base unless traveling to drill. I found similar rules for sailors prohibiting the wear of blue dungarees in the civilian public. Many more rules like these all cited the public wearing of such uniforms as inappropriate. Perceptions and rules may change, but many still think these are work and field clothes not appropriate for public display...seriously.
 
Interesting they're giving out BDU's since the army phased out that uniform, but I guess some units kept them around for extra uniforms.
 
Back
Top